Apparatus for emptying acid-phosphate chambers.



A. SHEPANEK. APPARATUS FOR BMPTYING ACID PHOSPHATE CHAMBERS. APPLIGATION FILED JAN.11,1913.

1,070,296, Patented Aug. 12,1913.

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A. SHEPANBK.

APPARATUS FOR EMPTYING ACID PHOSPHATE CHAMBERS.

APPLICATION IIVLED JAN.11, 1913.

1,070,296, Patented Aug. 12, 1913' A. SHEPANEK. APPARATUS FOR EMPTYI NG ACID PHOSPHATE CHAMBERS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.11, 1913.

Patented Aug. 12, 1913.

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A. SHEPANEK.

APPARATUS FOR EMPTYING ACID PHOSPHATE CHAMBERS. APPLICATION FILED JAN.11, 1913.

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APPLICATION FILED JAN.11,1913.

Patented Aug. 12, 1913.

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APPLICATION FILED JAN. 11,1913.

Patented Aug. 12,

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UNITED STATES PATENT oFFioE.

ALBERT SHEIANEK, or WEST ammonia, ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS FOR EHPTYING ACID-PHOSPHATE CHAMBERS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I ALBERT SHEPANEK, a former subject of the Emperor of Austria- Hungary, (who has declared his intention of becoming a citizen of the United States,) and a resident of the city of West Hammond, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Emptying Acid-Phosphate Chambers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for emptying acid phosphate chain bers.

At the present time the chambers in which acid phosphate is formed are emptied by manual labor through the use of a pick and shovel. This method of emptying is however unsatisfactory since the acid phosphate is injurious to the health and so that in emptying the chambers by this method the men engaged in the emptying process become diseased.

It is the object of this invention to produce an apparatus for effecting the mechanical emptying of chambers of the character mentioned and dispense with the use of manual labor for this purpose.

A further object is the production of emptying apparatus as mentioned which will be of durable donstruction, an apparatus which may be readily and easily operated, and which will be of high efiiciency in use.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of an acid phosphate chamber of a design adapting the same for use in conjunction with emptying apparatus embodying my invention, Fig. 2 is a top plan view of one end portion of the emptying device, the endless carrier together with the scrapers mounted thereon being omitted in this figure, Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 except that in this figure the endless scraper carrier together with the' scrapers mounted thereon is shown. Fig. i is an enlarged detail illustrating the mechanism for preventing relativetilting of the arms carrying the scraping mechanism, Fig. 5 is a front view of the mechanism shown Specification of Letters ratenc. Pat t 2 1913 Application filed January 11, 1913.

Serial No. 741,449.

in Fig.4, Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the scraping mechanism, the outer ends of the arms carrying the endless scraper carriers being broken off, Fig. 7 is an enlarged top plan 'view of the construction shown in Fig. 6, Fig. 8 is a vertical transverse section taken on substantially line mm of Fig. 6, Fig. 9 is an enlarged section taken on line yy of Fig. 8, Fig. 10 is a side elevation, partly n section, of one of the laterally project-- mg arms around which the endless scraper carriers travel, and Fig. 11 is an enlarged transverse section. taken on line zz' of Fig. 10.

The preferred form of construction as illustrated in the drawings comprises an acid chamber 1 rectangular in form the front wall of which is provided with a T-opening consisting of a vertical portion 2 and a horizontal portion 3. The openings 2 and 3 are closed during the chemical reaction which takes place during the formation of the acid phosphate by hinged doors a and 5 respectively. Said doors after the formation of the chemical has been completed and when it is desired to empty the chambers arethrown open, the doors 5 being opened through the medium of a rotatable shaft 6 upon the respective ends of which are provided drums 7. The drums 7 are connected by flexible cords 8 withthe free ends of the door 5 so that upon- :ro tation of said shaft said door will be elevated to open position. Rotation of shaft may be manually effected through rotation of a crank handle 9, which is connected with the shaft 6 through the medium of sprocket Wheels around which travels a sprocket chain 10.

'However, if desired the door raising mechapit is an endless conveyor belt 13 which suitably mounted upon drums 14. Deflector plates 15 are arranged above the belt 13 for directing the material which is scraped from the chamber 1 and which drops through the discharge opening thereof, as will be readily rails 12 and arranged at the bottom of said i deposited thereon from dropping over the sides thereof.

Arranged in front of the chamber 1 is a platform 19 upon which are mounted rails 20. In use a number of chambers 1 are arranged along the platform 19 and so that the scraping mechanism hereinafter described which is mounted upon the rails 20 may be moved upon the latter for employment with each of the chambers l.

Mountedupon the rails 20 is a carriage 21 upon the upper side of which is rotatably mounted a turn table 22. Provided upon the upper side of the turn table 22 is a plate 24 upon which are mounted rails 25, said rails being adapted for registration with the rails 12 provided in the pit 11. In use, however, the ends of the rails 25 will not abut exactly with the outer ends of rails 12 it being necessary to insert short movable sections to span the gap between the adjacent ends of said rails when in alinement. These short movable sections however are not shown.

Movably mounted upon the rails 25 is the scraping mechanism comprising superposed plates 26 and 27, the plate 26 being provided with trucks 28 and 29 which engage the rails 25 as shown. The front end of the plate 26 is narrower than the rearward end thereof for a reason which will become apparent as the description proceeds, trucks 28 being disposed closer than the trucks 29 for engagement with the innermost of the rails 25 of which there are four, the trucks 29 engaging the outermost of said rails.

Extending between and rigidly connecting the plates 26 and 27, are channel members 30 and 31, angle irons 32 and cylindrical bars or rods 33, the channel members as well as the channel members 31 and the angle irons 32 being connected by lattice work as shown in the several views. Also extending between the plates 26 and 27 are screws 34 and 35 the respective ends of which are rotatably mounted in bearings provided in said plates.

Arranged between and in threaded connection with the screws 34 and 35 is the center or body member 36 of the scraping mechanism proper, the arrangement being such that said body member 36 is supported by said screws and so that upon rotation of the latter the scraping mechanism will be moved vertically. Projecting laterally from either side of the body member 36 are arms viate friction.

reac es 37 with which are connected the inner ends of outwardly extending channel members 38. Rotatably mounted in the body member 36 in alinement with the inner ends of the arms 38 are shafts 39 upon which are fixed sprocket wheels or drums 40. Mounted in the outer ends of the arms 38 are shafts 41 upon which are fixed sprocket wheels or arms 42. around co-planar sprocket wheels 40 and 42 are sprocket chains 43. Carried by and ex tending between the chains 43 at correspond- Mounted upon and extendinging sides of the machine are scraper blades 44. The blades 44, as clearly shown in Fig. 11, are secured to holders 45 which are rigidly secured upon plates 46 formed at the -outer sides of and integral withce tain of the links of the .chains 43 as clearly shown in said figure. With the arrangement disclosed it will be seen upon rotation of the shafts 39 the chains 43 will be rotated and hence the blades 44 moved longitudinally of the supporting arms 38. In order to prevent sagging of the chains or scraper carriers 43 between the sprocket wheels 40 and 42 angle irons 47 are provided secured rigidly to the arms 38 by lattice work 48. The members 47 are arranged for contact with the inner sides of the chains 43, the latter being provided with rollers as shown for contact with the members 47 in order to alle- Inwardly extending from the plates 46 are arms 49 at the inner ends of which are provided rollers 50 adapted for engagement with the under sides of angle irons 52 which are arranged medially be tween the arms 38 and supported in this position by means of bars 53 which connect the lattice work 54 which extends between the upper and lower substantially parallel portions of angle irons 52 and the lattice work 48. With this arrangement it will be seen that the chains 43 Will be held positively against sagging and also against upward flexing or in other words against relative vertical movement. The body 36 is cut away at 55 in order to afiord clearance for the blades 44 in the passage of the latter around the sprockets 40.

Driving of the flexible scraper carriers which are constituted bythe sprocket chains 43 is effected through the medium of bevel gears 56 provided at corresponding ends of the shafts 39. The bevel gears 56 mesh with bevel gears 57 which are splined to vertically extending shafts 58 which extend between the plates 26 and 27 with their respective ends 'rotatably mounted in said plates. The bevel gears 57 are held in mesh with thegears 56 by means of plates 59 which are rigidly secured to lugs 60 formed upon the member 36, said gears 57 being arranged between the spaced plates 59 rovided at each side of the memith the arrangement set forth it which are her 36.

will be seen that upon rotation of the shafts 58 driving of the scraper carriers will be secured. 5

Provided at the lower ends of the shafts 58 are bevel gears 61 which mesh with bevel gears 62 provided at the inner ends of counter-shafts 63. Provided at the outer ends of the shafts 63 are bevel gears 64 which mesh with bevel gears 65 splined to shaft 66 as clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 7. Arranged upon the shaft 66 are also gears 67 and 68 adapted for meshing with gears 69 and 70 which are splined to the power shaft 71 of the motor 72, the latter being preferablyaTn electric motor. The gears 69 and 70 are so arranged relative to the gears 67 and 68 that when gear 69 is meshing with gear 67 the gear 70 will be out of mesh with gear 68 and vice-versa. Said gears are as will be observed of different diameters or sizes in order to change the speed of rotation of shaft 66 when desired it being clear that with this construction two speeds are possible. A shifter 73 is .provided for manually moving the gears 69 and 7 O to secure the engagement of the gears 69 and 70 with gears 67 or 68 respectively as desired. Cotiperating with the gears 65'are shifters 74 whereby said gears may be moved into orout of mesh with thegears 64 in order to connect or disconnect the motor 70 with the scraping mechanism.

Motor 72 is utilized also for effecting the vertical movement of the scraping mechanism and to this end the shaft 66 is provided with a worm 75 which meshes with a worm wheel 76 provided at the lower end of the screw 34 it being clear that with this arrangement said screw will be rotated upon operation of the motor. The shaft 34 is operatively connected with the shaft 35 through a train of gears 77, 78, 79 and 80 which connect the upper ends of said shafts, said gears being interposed between the plate 27 and an elongated plate 81 as clearly shown in Figs. 7 and 8. With the arrange ment disclosed then it will be seen that upon operation of the motor screws 34 and 35 willbe rotated thereby obtaining vertical movement of the scraping mechanism, elevation of the latter being effected when the motor is driven in one direction and lowering of the mechanism being secured when the motor is reversed. I

In order to maintain the laterally projecting ,scraping arms in rigid position relative to the supporting mechanism therefor, and more particularly to prevent relative tilting of said arms rollers 82, as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5, are provided at the outer ends of arms 83 which are rigidly secured to lugs 84 formed at the opposite sides of the body 63 -of the scraping mechamsm. The rollers 82 contact with the bottom of the .channels of channel members 30, rollers 85 scraper arms will be effectually prevented provided intermediate the rollers 82 contacting with the sides or flanges of said channel members. With this provision it will be seen that relative tilting of the and friction will be alleviated throughthe employment of the rollers 82 and 85.

' In operation the machine is first so positioned, through rotation of the. turn table 22, that one of the scraper arms projects into the chamber 1 through the opening 3 in vertical alinement with the opening 2. The device is then set in operation causing the scraper arms to be gradually lowered, such operation causing scraper bladesupon the operatively positioned arm to scrape the contents of the chamber 1 in alinement with the door opening 2 outwardly and discharging the same on to the conveyer belt' 13. When a space corresponding with the door opening 2 has been cut through the contents of the chamber, the device is turned upon the turn table a quarter way around or degrees so that the scraper arms will be parallel with the front side or wall of the chamber. The device is then moved through the openings 2 and 3 with both of the scraper arms passing through the opening 3. When the scraper'arms are positioned within the chamber, the device-is again set in operation, in which event the scrapers upon said scraper arms will effect the scraping of the contents of the chamber toward the center of the latter, depositing the same into the pit 11 where the same falls upon the conveyer belt. 13, whence it. is delivered to the belt 16 and carried to a place of storage or wherever desired. When the scraper arms have reached the bottom of the chamber 1, the same are elevated and the device moved inwardly in order to take a new cut. This operation is repeated until the device has been moved to the rearward end of the a chamber when the entire contents thereof will have been removed.

In order to facilitate the scraping operation, the scraper carriers or chains 43 are so disposed'that the under sides thereof are inclined, the inclination being such that in the scraping operation there will be a tendency for the material which is loosened or. removed. by the blades to slide toward the center of the machine. Also the outer ends of the blades 44'are curved in order to conduce to effective cutting 01' scraping. The 30 base plate 26 ofthe scraping device is cut away as clearly shown in Fig. 3-in order to afford clearance for particles which are worked loose bv the scraper blades and which .pass downwardly for deposit upon the con- 1 5 will be moved to throw the gear 70 into mesh iii with gear 68 since during operation of the device a very gradual lowering of the scraper arms is necessary. In returning the scraper arms to elevated position theshifter 78 will be operated to move the gear 69 into mesh with gear 67 in order to return the scraper arms to position for operation with increased speed and thus to economize in time.

A deviceof the construction set forth will be found of high efficiency in use and through the use thereof a container of the character mentioned may be emptied with great rapidity and without the use of manual labor.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form-of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore; do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope.

of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a traveling support, said support consisting of a base and an upright arising from said base; laterally projecting scraping mechanism mounted for vertical movement upon said upright; and means for actuating said scraping mechanism and for moving the same vertically, substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a traveling support, said support consisting of a base and an upright'arising from said base; laterally projecting scraping mechanism mounted for vertical movement upon said upright;'and means for actuating said scraping mechanism and for simultaneously moving the same vertically, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a traveling support consisting of a base and an upright arising from said base; laterally projecting scraping mechanism mounted for vertical movement upon said upright andprojecting from opposite side thereof; and means for actuating said scraping mechanism and for moving-the same vertically upon said upright, substantially as described.

4c. In an apparatus of'the character described, the combination of a traveling support consisting of a base and an upright arising from said base; laterally projecting arms mounted for vertical movement upon said upright and projecting from opposite sides thereof ;-.an endless traveling carrier mounted upon each of said arms; scrapers carried by said carriers; and means tor drivnor/once scribed, the combination of a traveling support consisting of a base and an upright arising from said base; laterally projecting arms mounted for vertical movement upon said upright and projecting from opposite sides thereof; an endless traveling carrier mounted upon each of said arms; scrapers carried by said carriers; and means for driving said carriers and for moving said arms vertically upon saidupright, said carriers being driven so that the under sides thereof move toward the center of the machine, sub 'stantially as described.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a traveling sup portconsisting of a base and an upright arising from said base; laterally projecting arms mounted for vertical movement upon said upright and projecting from opposite sides thereof; an endless traveling carrier mounted upon each of said arms; scrapers carried by said carriers; and means for driving said carriers and for simultaneously scribed, the combination of a traveling support mounted for rotary adjustment, said support consisting of a base and an upright arising from said base; laterally projecting arms having their inner ends mounted for vertical sliding upon said upright; an end less traveling carrier mounted upon each of said arms; outwardly extending scrapers carried by said carriers; and means mounted on the base of said support for driving said carriers and for vertically moving said arms, substantially as described. 7

8. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a rotatable traveling carriage; a traveling support mount-ed upon said carriage consisting of a base and an upright arising from said base; laterally projecting arms having their inner ends mounted for vertically sliding upon said upright;- an endless traveling carrier mounted upon each of said arms; outwardly extending scrapers carried by said carriers; and means on said base for driving said carriers and for vertically moving said arms, substantially as described.

9. In an apparatus of the character deupon each of said arms; outwardly extending scrapers carried by said carriers; and

means for driving said carriers and for vertically moving said arms, substantially as described. 7

10. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a traveling support consisting of a base; rotatable screws arising from said base; a scraping mechanism, said scraping mechanism consisting of a central body portion and centrally pro-. jccting arms connected at their inner ends with said body, said body being inthreaded connection with said screws whereby upon rotation of said screws said scraping mechanism will be moved vertically; means for maintaining said scraping mechanism against relative tilting movement; and means for actuating said scraping mechanism and for rotating said screws, substantially as described. I

11. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a traveling support consisting of a base; rotatable screws arising from said base; a scraping mechanism, said scraping mechanism consisting of a central body portion and centrally projectingarms connected at their inner ends with said body, said body being in threaded connection with said'screws whereby upon rotation of said screws said scraping mechanism will be moved vertically; means for maintaining said scraping mechanism against relative tiltin movement; and means for actuating sald scraping mechanism and for simultaneously rotating said screws, substantially as described.

12. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a traveling support consisting of a base; rotatable screws arising from said base; a scraping mechanism, said scraping mechanism consisting of a central body portion; laterally projecting arms connected at their inner ends with said body portion and projecting in opposite directions therefrom; endless carriers mounted for travel upon said arms; scrapers carried by said carriers, said bodyof said scraping mechanism being in threaded connection with said screws whereb upon rotation of said screws said scraplng mechanism will be moved vertically; means for maintaining said scraping mechanism against relative tilting movement; and means for driving said scraper carriers-and for rotating said screws, substantially as described. v

13. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a traveling support consisting of a base; rotatable screws arising from said base; a scraping mecha-' nism, said scraping mechanism consisting of a central body portion; laterally projectingv arms connected at their inner ends with said body portion and projecting in opposite directions therefrom; endless carriers mounted for travel upon said arms; scrapers carried by said carriers, said body of said scraping mechanism being in threaded connection with said screws whereby upon rotation of said screws said scraping mechanism will be moved vertically; means for maintaining said scraping mechanism against relative tilting movement; a motor mounted on said base; and an. operative connection between said motor and said scraper carriers and screws may be simultaneously rotated, substantially as described.

14. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, the combination of a traveling support consisting of a base; rotatable operatively connected screws arising from said base; a scraping mechanism consisting of a central body portion; laterally projecting arms connected at their inner ends with said body and extending in opposite directions therefrom; endless carriers mounted for travel upon said arms; scrapers carried upon said carriers; drums at the inner ends of said arms around which said carriers travel, said body of said scraper mechanism being in threaded connection with said screws whereby upon rotation of said screws said scraping mechanism will be moved vertically; vertically extending rotatable shafts; gears splined to said shafts and adapted to move in unison with said scrap ing mechanism; an operative connection be-. tween said ears and said drums of said scraper carriers whereby upon rotation of said shafts said scraper carriers will be actuated; and means for rotating said screws and said shafts, substantially as described.

15. Inan apparatus of the character de scribed, the combination of a traveling support consisting of a base;,rotatable operatively connected screws arising from said base; a scraping mechanism consist-ing of a central body portion; laterally projecting arms connected at their inner ends with said body and extending in opposite directions therefrom; endless carriers mounted for travel upon said arms; scrapers carried upon said carriers; drums at the inner ends of said arms around which said carriers travel, said body of said scraper mechanism being in threaded connection with said screws whereby 'upon rotation of said screws said scraping mechanism will be moved vertically; vertically extending rotatable shafts; gears splined to said shafts and adapted to move in unison with said scraping mecha nism; an operative connection between said gears and saiddrums of said scraper carriers whereby upon rotation of-said shafts said scraper carriers .will be actuated; and means for simultaneously rotating said screws and said shafts, substantially as described.

16. In an apparatus of the character described the combination with a chamber having openings in its front side and a discharge opening at the base thereof; of a rotatable carriage arranged in front of said chamber; rails upon the upper side of said carriage; rails at the sides of said discharge opening of said chamber adapted for registration with the rails on said carriage; and

a scraping mechanism movably mounted upon said rails of said carriage and adapted to be moved therefrom into said chamber upon said rails provided at the discharge opening at the base of said chamber, substantially as described.

17. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a chamber having a T-opening in its front side and a discharge opening at the base thereof; a rotatable carriage arranged in front of said chamber; rails upon the upper sidesof said carriage; rails at the sides of said discharge 'a scraping mechanism movably mounted upon said rails of said carriage, said scraping mechanism being of a form corresponding with that of said opening in the front side of said chamber through which said mechanism is adapted to be moved into said chamber upon said rails provided at the dis charge opening at the base of said chamber, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALBERT suErANnK.

Witnesses JOSHUA R. H. Poris, HELEN F. Linus. 

